Configure your router and connect your players

If you’re setting the Minecraft server up on your home computer, that probably means that there’s a router between it and the outside world. Any players connected to that router will probably be able to see your server directly over the network. But if some users will be connecting from the outside, you’ll have to configure the router so that it forwards port 25575 (TCP) to the server. This step requires a bit of technical know-how, but only takes a few minutes. If you need help, look up your router’s brand/model on Portforward.com and see if there’s a guide for Minecraft Server configuration.

Once you’re all set up to receive outside connections, it’s time to start up your server again by running Minecraft_Server and testing it out. You’ll also need to look up your public IP address by going to Google and searching “what is my ip” — this is the address other players will need to put in to connect to your server.

Learn to be the operator

Since you’re on the op list for this server, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the special powers that come with the job. When op players bring up the in-game chat by pressing “t,” they can enter commands to kick players, ban players, stop the server, and a lot more. The full list of op commands and how to use them is on the Minecraft Wiki, but here are a few that you should pay particular attention to.

/gamemode – Entering this lets you put a particular player into Survival or Creative mode, no matter what the server’s game mode is set to. You could put yourself into Creative mode temporarily, for instance, if you wanted to fly around and get an overview of what your players have been working on.

/tp – This command teleports one player to another, or to a set of x/y/z coordinates. Since Minecraft players have a habit of to digging too deep (and too greedily), they sometimes get stuck and need help returning to the surface.

/give – If you want, you can use your op status to become a benevolent demigod to your new Minecraft world, and occasionally bestow gifts on deserving players. Enter this command along with the code for a particular block and it will pop out at your chosen player’s feet. If you need to give a player a whole bunch of something, you can map the /give command onto a single button with Autohotkey.

Map your world

If you’ve had a Minecraft server running for a while, it’s helpful to create a map that your players can use to keep track of the locations they’ve explored. There are lots of programs designed to generate detailed Minecraft maps, but the easiest solution by far is MinecraftWorldMap.com. The free service will create a full day/night/cave map of your server’s world and host it online where your players can reference it. Check the site’s help files for instructions on uploading your world files.

Final details

Now you are hosting a simple Minecraft server for your friends to enjoy, and the only thing you’ll need to worry about is a little maintenance now and then. Since you’re probably running the server on a desktop computer, you’ll want to restart it occasionally to make sure it doesn’t get bogged down with use. You should also keep an eye out for new versions of Minecraft. When updates launch, you can install them by simply deleting the Minecraft_Server file, downloading the latest version in its place, and then running it the way you normally would. The new server application will update any existing files as needed. Also be aware that any community mods you install may get broken by major game updates, and may not get patched right away.